Millie Haffety admits her Baku dream finally feels like reality after the Sheffield diver was handed her official Team GB kit.
Back in February, Haffety and partner Millie Fowler burst onto the scene by winning the 3m synchro title at the British Championships, before following that up with gold at last month’s 7 Nations in Stockholm.
And that led to the pair being selected on Team GB’s 160-plus strong squad that will head to Baku for the first ever European Games.
While the competition begins on June 12, City of Sheffield Diving Club’s Haffety will have to wait a further eight days before she can strut her stuff on the international stage.
But after travelling to Birmingham to pick up mounds of Team GB kit last week, the 15-year-old insists she is champing at the bit to get going.
“It has been so exciting to go up to Birmingham and get my kit, it is an amazing feeling to have all the Team GB stuff on,” said Haffety.
“I have never done anything like that before and they had laid out all my kit and I had to try it all on which was great – you get loads of stuff.
“It was really good to see a few other athletes from other sports too before we get out there and it was really cool to start the whole process.
“It makes it all the more real that I am so close to going out to Baku now and to have all the kit makes it all the more special too.”
But it isn’t just her shiny new kit that is filling Haffety with confidence, with the teenager set to land in Azerbaijan riding a wave after a stellar season to date.
“Training has been really good these last few weeks and things are looking hopeful for a good competition,” she added.
“I don’t want to get my hopes up but a medal out there would be amazing and that is what I am going to aim for.
“It has been a good year for me so far and I want to carry that over when it really matters, and that will hopefully happen in Baku.”
© Sportsbeat 2015